FOUR LEVELS OF BOWING

 First level: To ‘bow’deeply, usually bending ones upper body to 90 degrees level. This is done when koohai, senpais and sensei’s meet their dai-sensei (grand master).
 Second level: To ‘bow’ deeply, usually bending ones upper body to 60 degrees level. This is done when koohai, meet their sensei (instructor).
Third level: To ‘bow’ deeply, usually bending ones upper body to 45 degrees level. This is done when; senpais meet their sensei (instructor).
 Fourth level: To ‘bow’ deeply, usually bending ones upper body to 10 degrees level. This is done when karate-kas meet within and outside a dojo (class). This exchange of courteous behavior is keenly observed among well disciplined karate-kas within and outside a dojo. 

THE “BOW” IN KARATE- DO

Bowing is an expression of greeting of salutation. It is a wish to convey courtesy and reverence by the young or new student who meet seniors (SENPAI) and instructors (SENSEI). The sensei or senpai immediately responds with a bow to the junior students (KOOHAI) or karateka.
  In Karate Do, as it is being a Japanese art of self defense the practitioner must follow this polite behavior within a dojo and whenever the sensei, senpai or koohai meet.

How to bow: 

  In “bowing” to express politeness, one slowly bends ones whole body forward and downward. A quick “bow” will give an impression of casualness or insincerity; an abrupt bow like a duck finding something to eat will seem childish. It is important to spend the appropriate length of time ‘bowing’

BENEFITS OF LEARNING KARATE

All karate techniques loosen up the body and make all the joints supple. It is not an imbalanced exercise; there is equal development of legs, feet, arms, hands and body.

The legs are exercised and strengthened while practicing kicking techniques.
The feet are exercised by virtue that the foot is tensed in the particular form it is taking at the time of performing each kick i.e., side of the foot edged out and tensed for side kick and toes up for front kick.

The arm is exercised when performing knife hand strike, elbow strike back fist and punch. The hand and wrist are exercised when the hand is tensed up for the point of impact whether it is open hand or closed fist.
The body is exercised with the tension of the stomach muscles, particularly with deep breathing exercise and total tension of the body when shouting “kiai” during the counter attack techniques.
Meditation (before and after practice) helps in better concentration of mind, which is very useful in our everyday life. 

PURPOSE OF KARATE

KARATE Do (Kara = empty, Te =hand, do=way) literally the way of the empty hand. It is a martial art which involves the quest for perfection as with other most art forms. One can learn this art for physical fitness or self defense, but many continue their striving for this perfection in karate to achieve individual enlightenment.
  The ultimate purpose of karate is to train the mind, body spiritual and physical development one oneself. The students were trained to prove there best in terms of there performance. The knowledge of the self defense techniques builds up self confidence especially in a person who has low self esteem and low self worth.